Trinity County Divorce Records

Trinity County Superior Court in Weaverville maintains all divorce records for this remote northern California county. The clerk's office handles record requests by phone at 530-623-1208, by email at courtclerks@trinitycounty.org, or in person during office hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Family Law matters are handled by appointment only, so call ahead if you need to discuss a divorce case or obtain copies of court records. For a certified copy of a divorce decree, the court charges the standard California fee of fifteen dollars plus fifty cents per page for photocopies, and all requests should include the case number or both party names along with the approximate year of the divorce to help staff locate the file in the court's record system.

Contact Trinity Superior Court

The courthouse is in Weaverville, the county seat of Trinity County. Call the clerk's office at 530-623-1208. Email courtclerks@trinitycounty.org for general questions. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Family Law services are by appointment only, so call ahead to schedule a time if you need to visit for divorce records.

Trinity County is one of the smallest and most remote counties in California. The courthouse serves a small rural population. Staff can provide personal attention to record requests, but resources are limited. The office does not have an online case portal, so all searches are done manually through physical files or computer records.

When you contact the clerk's office, have your case number ready if possible. If you don't have it, provide both party names and the year the divorce was filed. The clerk will search for your case and tell you what records are available. Be patient, as manual searches can take time.

How to Get Divorce Decrees

Start by calling the clerk's office at 530-623-1208. Explain that you need a copy of a divorce decree. Give them the case number or both party names and the year of the divorce. Ask what the total cost will be. The staff will tell you how to proceed.

You can request records by mail. Send a written request with the case number or party names and year. Include your mailing address and phone number. Enclose a check for fifteen dollars plus fifty cents per page made payable to Trinity Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mailing. Processing time is typically two to four weeks.

If you visit in person, call ahead to make an appointment since Family Law services are by appointment only. Bring photo ID and the case number if you have it. The clerk will help you fill out the request form and make the copy. Payment can be by check, money order, or possibly credit card. Ask when you call.

Certified copies have an official court stamp and signature. You need certification for legal purposes like changing your name, remarrying, or proving marital status. Regular copies are fine for personal use but won't work for official transactions.

Divorce Record Fees

Trinity County charges standard California fees for divorce records. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs fifteen dollars. Regular copies cost fifty cents per page. If the clerk needs to search for your case because you don't have a case number, they may charge fifteen dollars for searches that take over ten minutes.

These fees are set by state law. Government Code Section 70674 establishes the fifteen-dollar fee for certified divorce decrees. Section 70627 covers copy fees and search fees.

Payment can be by check or money order made payable to Trinity Superior Court. Write the case number on the memo line if you have it. Do not mail cash. If visiting in person, ask the clerk about payment options. They may accept credit cards but call ahead to confirm.

California Divorce Laws

California is a no-fault divorce state. The only grounds are irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity, as stated in Family Code Section 2310. Nearly all divorces cite irreconcilable differences. You don't have to prove wrongdoing by either spouse.

Residency requirements come from Family Code Section 2320. One spouse must live in California for six months and in Trinity County for three months before filing. Once you file and serve papers, there's a mandatory six-month waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. That's under Family Code Section 2339.

Divorce judgments are permanent public records. Government Code Section 68152 requires courts to keep divorce decrees forever. Anyone can request a copy unless the case is sealed by court order, which is rare.

Older Divorce Cases

Trinity County has divorce records going back many decades. Recent cases are easier to find. Older cases may be in physical files or archived. The clerk's office can retrieve old files, but it takes longer. Allow extra time if your divorce is from the 1980s or earlier.

The California Department of Public Health kept basic divorce records from 1962 through June 1984. These are not full court files, just a Certificate of Record showing party names, county, date, and case number. If your divorce falls in that window, you can order a certificate from CDPH Vital Records at P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. The fee is eighteen dollars. Processing takes many weeks, sometimes over six months. After June 1984, CDPH has no divorce records. You must go through the county court.

When requesting old records, give as much detail as you can. Include both party names, maiden names if known, and the year or decade of the divorce. The more info you provide, the easier it is for the clerk to locate the file.

Help with Divorce Matters

Trinity County Superior Court may offer a Family Law Facilitator who provides free assistance to self-represented parties. Contact the clerk's office at 530-623-1208 to ask about the Facilitator's schedule and services. They can help with forms, answer procedural questions, and explain divorce requirements.

The California Courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has guides on filing for divorce, responding to a petition, and handling custody and support issues. You can download forms and read step-by-step instructions.

Legal aid organizations may offer free or low-cost help to low-income residents. Contact legal services in Trinity County or nearby areas to see if you qualify for assistance with family law matters. Given the remote location, you may need to travel to a larger county for in-person legal services.

If you need a private attorney, the State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service at calbar.ca.gov. You can search for licensed attorneys who practice family law in Trinity County or nearby areas.

Surrounding Counties

Trinity County borders several other counties. If your divorce was filed elsewhere, contact that county's court. Shasta County to the east has its courthouse in Redding. Humboldt County to the west is in Eureka. Tehama County to the southeast is in Red Bluff. Each has its own court system and record procedures.

Make sure you know which county handled your divorce. The county where the petition was filed keeps the records. This may not be where you live now. If you're unsure, call the Trinity County clerk's office and ask. They can sometimes check or point you in the right direction.

You can find contact information for all California courts at courts.ca.gov/find-my-court. The directory lists addresses, phone numbers, and websites for every county court.